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Officials: Boulder coyotes' fate won't be driven by public opinion

Outcry over elk's shooting won't take lethal options out of the mix

By Charlie Brennan Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
01/08/2013 07:46:29 PM MST

Updated:
01/08/2013 11:03:03 PM MST

The firestorm of public opinion around the recent unauthorized shooting of a bull elk by a Boulder police officer will not affect the possible use of lethal measures in dealing with a string of aggressive coyote reports, wildlife officials said Tuesday.

The number of aggressive coyote reports since Dec. 24 -- including one biting of a jogger -- has grown to six, with word of a cyclist being chased Jan. 2 at the Goose Creek underpass near the Boulder Creek Path.

Authorities also received a seventh report Tuesday, this time of a cyclist chased and nearly bitten in early December on the Boulder Creek Path six blocks west of Foothills Parkway.

"Our agency understands very clearly that when public safety is an issue, we are going to act," said Jennifer Churchill, spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "If a coyote injures someone or is aggressive to humans and we can identify that coyote or coyotes, yes, we will remove them."

Val Matheson, the city of Boulder's urban wildlife coordinator, agreed that the shooting of a bull elk on Mapleton Hill on Jan. 1 -- and the community uproar in its wake -- will not shape the strategy being developed to solve coyote problems.

But Matheson emphasized the city's preferred use of nonviolent strategies. That was Boulder's preference before the elk was gunned down, she said, and nothing has changed in the days that followed.

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"Something that is sort of the foundation of the city's urban wildlife plan, the guiding principle, is that Boulder is committed to limiting lethal control of our native wildlife when we can, when it's feasible," Matheson said. "My role is to see if there are other ways we can be effective and support public safety but limit lethal control."

As for what's been dubbed "Elkgate," Matheson said, "I don't see it as influencing anything that I'm doing."

When Broomfield experienced coyote trouble in 2011, a variety of measures were implemented -- including the shooting and killing of 11 of the animals.

Matheson declined to speculate on how a Broomfield approach would play to Boulder's populace but noted, "I do think Boulder is less inclined to resort to lethal measures than other communities."

Some experts on urban wildlife management said the elk's violent end, and the ensuing community discussion, could well influence officials' thinking on other wildlife management issues.

"Any time you have public outcry, it creates a contentious environment that can certainly impact the management alternatives that are considered for the future," said Tara Teel, an associate professor in the department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University.

Teel is involved in the ongoing Denver Metro Area Coyote Behavior and Ecology Study, which includes a survey of more than 2,000 residents on their attitudes concerning coyote management strategies. Results of that survey may be available next month.

"Public opposition can play a role in the success of the long-term management strategies, and it (the elk's shooting) will be on the minds of some of the management authorities now because they've seen this public outcry," Teel said.

Public education concerning what is being done, and why, is important, Teel said, because, "We know in some cases that a certain kind of management strategy may be chosen that may not necessarily be something the public is likely to support, but management feels is absolutely necessary."

Boulder resident Rita Anderson, a policy and investigations specialist for In Defense of Animals, advocated for temporarily closing down the eastern portion of the Boulder Creek Path most affected by the recent coyote incidents.

"What I'd like to see is for them to look and see, is there a den or a family of coyotes? Find out what's going on over there, instead of saying, 'Let's just kill them or get rid of them.'"

Shutting down any portion of the bike path, Matheson said, is not under consideration because of its heavy use by commuters.

Mary Ann Bonnell, lead naturalist for the city of Aurora, has been deeply involved in coyote management issues for eight years and is co-principal investigator for the Denver Metro Area Coyote Behavior and Ecology Study. She noted that the situation in Boulder represents "definitely aberrant behavior" on the part of the animals. And, she said, she sympathizes with those struggling to develop a solution.

"Boulder is a completely different community than Aurora, even just by virtue of geography," Bonnell said. "You can never make everyone happy with a wildlife management decision."

Boulder animal control officers and an Open Space and Mountain Parks ranger work to capture an injured coyote Tuesday on the bike path near Broadway and Baseline Road. They euthanized the coyote because of its injuries.
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JEREMY PAPASSO
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